BY NOOR YUSUF

O Lady in the haven fair

Across the traverse of the seas,

Who walked the earth in elder days

And wove her blossoms on the trees.

We call to thee, to thee we sing,

O honoured daughter of the king,

To hither cast thy gentle sight,

O Maiden named for radiant light!

Fair light! Fair light of evenstar

That glitters near and blazes far,

Within the morning, shimmering,

Within the darkness, glimmering,

Amongst the angels, glistening,

And to her lovers, listening;

In raiment wrought of silver thread,

A coronet upon her head,

Upon her mantle jewels bestrewn,

A dance of stars around the moon.

Her beauty unbeheld by sight,

Her wisdom piercing the night,

Her noble station is bedight

With lordly, amaranthine light.

O Queen anointed by his light!

We call to thee, to thee we sing

That, as we honour thee, that thou

So honour our remembering.

Written for Sayyida Fatima Zahra.

Iambic Tetrameter

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